Guys,

I was exchanging PM's with Moderator Don B. and he thought it would be wise to share the following: (much of which Bagpipingandy already mentioned in a previous post)

* I found a minor air leak at the reservoir fitting, attempted to tighten it a tiny bit but the air leak became worse prompting me to install a new nut/olive.

"Hi Don - after exchanging emails & posts w/ Andy - I learned the following: the olive secures the air line in place. The olive has teeth and grabs the air line preventing it from coming out of the fitting.

That's why it's so important to have a smooth connection at the nylon line. Any previous marks, scorches, scratches, etc - will not ensure the olive has a good solid (grab) of the air line.

Additionally, olives can be reused but you need to cut the air line right above where the olive is and slide it outward (towards where the cut was made) - remember, you only have so much usable nylon tubing available before having to add a connector fitting and more air tubing.

The nut has a total of 3 o-rings that handles the actual sealing. 2 o-rings inside (where the air line goes through the inner part of the nut and one o-ring on the outside of the threads.

I figured when re-installing the air line nut I used a touch of Teflon tape on the threads. I figured the Teflon tape will add further insulation at the threads where air would naturally look to escape first.

As you pointed out - any replacement of nuts/olives require 3mm to 5mm of the nylon line (.12" to .20") to be squarely cut before installing the nut then the olive with a "guillotine style tubing cutter" referenced in the Air Suspension Training Manual (Blue Point)

(I actually found a Blue Point cutter on eBay and I believe the seller has a few more spares available for sale - I'm waiting for him to get back to me..)

I will keep everyone informed when he responds - for those of you that tinker with your air suspension like I do and want one..

Thanks - Anthony

 

also to add to this, the external of the hose must also be mark free for the 2 inner o-rings to seal against the outer diameter of the pipe, any scorings, markings or not being round cause it to leak, hence wire cutters crush the hose out of shape, i am testing a few aftermarket ones and its amazing the design and how little makes them seal, the olive is just to hold the hose from "poping" out

regards

Andy

 

I just received my Blue Point (Jaguar Spec) tubing cutter today..